American Studies

Are you familiar with the name Rosa Parks? How about Ralph Nader? Babe Ruth? Or maybe Charles Manson? All of these names crop up in the wide-ranging field of American studies. That’s because the subject matter in this program spans numerous academic disciplines from literature (think Mark Twain) to history (Chief Sitting Bull) to political science (Strom Thurmond), economics and law (Elizabeth Warren) and beyond. Our history is a record of notable achievements and dubious exploits, and American studies unveils that story as few other minors can. If you’re keen to explore U.S. politics and the mass media, we do that in American studies. If you want to examine the cultural underpinnings of religion in the U.S., or immerse yourself in the many subgenres of American film, we do that, too. American studies is a broad path with nearly unlimited opportunities for detailed study of who we are in the U.S. and how we pursue happiness and liberty. At the College of Charleston, our American Studies Program gives you tremendous latitude in the courses you can take, and that means you can design your coursework to suit your particular academic interests as well as your post-college aspirations. Some of the courses offered include:

• People and Cultures of Early America
• Music in America
• The Presidency
• Urban Sociology
• Financial Markets in the U.S. Economy

American Philosophy Students in this minor work closely with faculty in a small but vibrant community. They examine our country’s institutions as well as its ethnicities and look at how our collective culture negotiates its various identities and desires in an increasingly interconnected world. American studies — it’s self exploration on a large but meaningful scale. Check it out.